Jose 'Peping' Cojuangco is running for a fouth term as POC president. Jerome Ascano

PHILIPPINE Football Federation president Mariano ‘Nonong’ Araneta has sought the disqualification of Jose ‘Peping’ Cojuangco from the presidential elections of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Araneta also filed a petition seeking the disqualification of longtime Cojuangco ally Joey Romasanta from the November 25 elections even as the POC election committee mulls over a protest over its decision to disqualify Cojuangco's opponent, Ricky Vargas.

In his letter-complaint, Araneta claimed the POC and its leader Cojuangco violated no less than the International Olympic Committee Code of Ethics by running for a fourth term as president of the POC in this month’s elections.

Araneta also claimed Cojuangco violated an IOC organization provision issued December 12, 1999 that fixed the term of the president for eight years, renewable for four years only, or a total of 12 years in office.

“As a Sportsman as he himself declares himself to be, President Cojuangco should have voluntarily refrained from running another term, even without any protest like this objection leveled upon him,” wrote Araneta.

Araneta, an ally of Vargas, claimed the POC and Cojuangco were not able to define what an “active member” is, in clear violation, Araneta insisted, of Section 2.8 of the IOC Code of Ethics that state that “elections should be governed by clear, transparent, and fair rules.”

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Araneta also claimed that the “vague” nature of the term “active member” is favorable to the incumbent or, in this case, Cojuangco.

“In disqualifying candidates of Congressman Abraham Tolentino and Mr. Victorico P. Vargas, without due process, the POC, the Election Committee, and President Jose S. Cojuangco, Jr. are guilty of derailing the electoral process with the end in view of perpetuating the term of office of the incumbent President,” wrote Araneta.

Araneta insisted Cojuangco also violated an IOC Code of Ethics referring to conflict of interests when he ran for president with his daughter Mikee Cojuangco-Jaworski having a voting privilege being the IOC representative to the Philippines.

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“Mrs. Mikee is not at fault in this exercise. The violation lies only with the POC President who filed his candidacy and has already counted the vote of her daughter in her favor,” wrote Araneta.

In the same letter-complaint, Araneta also blasted Cojuangco as president of the equestrian association, and should be considered, Araneta believes, as not an “active member,” based on the NSA’s performance.

“The NSA for Boxing has participated in international events and won more international events than the NSA of Equestrian. In that sense, Mr. Cojuangco is a less “Active Member” of POC and the General Assembly than Mr. Vargas,” Araneta said.

As to his other complaint, Araneta claimed Romasanta is guilty of “forum shopping” for being the president of two NSAs namely the karatedo and volleyball associations.